PETMAN robot to closely simulate soldiers

A freely walking biped robot the size and shape of a human being is being developed to realistically simulate a soldier wearing protective clothing. The robot, PETMAN (from Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin), is being developed by Boston Dynamics for the US Army for testing chemical protection clothing. The anthropomorphic robot will be able to balance itself while walking, crawling, doing calisthenics, and generally moving freely like a human while being exposed to chemical warfare agents.

At its current stage the robot resembles a box on legs, but in its final form it will closely resemble a person, having “the shape and size of a standard human,” according to VP of Engineering at Boston Dynamics, Robert Playter. When completed, PETMAN will be the first anthropomorphic robot to move dynamically like a real person, Playter said. The army also wanted the robot to simulate physiological responses inside the suit, such as sweating, temperature and humidity control, and even breathing, to even more realistically simulate a soldier wearing a protective suit.The prototype robot walks heel-to-toe just like a human, and remains balanced even when pushed. In tests it has achieved a fast walking speed of 4.4 mph walking on a moving conveyor belt. PETMAN’s walking algorithm and the mechanical design are based on a previous Boston Dynamics robot known as Big Dog, which is designed for carrying supplies over almost any terrain.

Like its predecessor, the PETMAN robot has a hydraulic actuation system and articulated legs with shock-absorbing elements. The robot is under the control of an on-board computer and an array of sensors and internal monitoring systems.

The 13-month developmental period will be followed by 17 months of building, installation, and validation. Delivery of the completed and tested robot is expected some time in 2011. Boston Dynamics is a small company that spun off MIT in 1992. It specializes in robotics, with many of its projects being for military applications. Measurement Technology Northwest, Midwest Research Institute (MRI), Smith Carter CUH2A (SCC) and HHI Corporation are all partners in the PETMAN project.

Apple's iPad Wi-Fi with 3G: Is anytime access worth it?

In the five weeks I've spent with an iPad, little has made me back off my initial impressions: While not for everybody, Apple's freshly conceived tablet is indeed a stunning game-changer. But the Wi-Fi-only iPad model I've been using has at least one big drawback: Wi-Fi still isn't ubiquitous. Over the weekend, I've been trying out the model that aims to address this void, the iPad Wi-Fi "plus" 3G that went on sale Friday. Thanks to AT&T's wireless 3G cellular service, I browsed the Web and streamed video sans Wi-Fi in a suburban New Jersey park, sitting in the grandstand at Yankee Stadium and in my car.

The price for this extra wireless freedom is $629 for a 16-gigabyte model, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. That compares with $499, $599 and $699 for the Wi-Fi-only versions.

Meanwhile, AT&T charges $14.99 a month for 250 megabytes of wireless data and $29.99 for unlimited data. No contract is required, but you do have to tell AT&T if you don't want to continue. The prepay plans automatically renew. It's all easily managed on the iPad itself.

You have flexibility to switch plans on the go. I easily burned past 250MB. The San Francisco Chronicle estimates that 250MB will give you about 35 minutes of YouTube video, or a few thousand Web pages and typical e-mail use.

Is anytime Internet access worth the premium? It boils down to how often you'll be out and about without Wi-Fi access.

Proving as always that cellular service varies by location, I found browsing the Web poky in the upper deck of Yankee Stadium but reasonably fast in the suburban park and in my house.

I had no hiccups streaming the movie "Julie & Julia" through the free Netflix app. Video on Netflix displays in lower resolution when using 3G compared with Wi-Fi, but the difference wasn't stark.

I could not make the same statement concerning videos on YouTube. In 3G, the quality was dramatically inferior (read: lousy). Moreover, ABC's iPad app wouldn't play 3G videos at all. Instead, a warning appears: "Cellular networks are not supported at this time."

Apple says it made the decision to downgrade resolution on YouTube so you get continuous playback in more places as opposed to stops and starts. ABC made the call to restrict cellular usage through its app.

In most other respects the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi "plus" 3G models look and behave similarly. The 3G machine has a plastic back strip on the top and rear that covers the 3G and GPS antennas.

There's a slot on the side for a micro SIM card. Having GPS means locations through Maps and other apps are more accurate.

I didn't run a scientific test, but based on my usage, expect Apple's claim of some nine hours of battery life to be on the mark, about an hour less than you'll get on the Wi-Fi-only model.

Samsung Introduces Corby -- Touchscreen Mobile Phone for Youth

Samsung Electronics today announced the availability of Samsung Corby (model: S3650), a mobile phone designed to support the digitally connected lifestyles of today’s young mobile users. The Samsung Corby, available across Europe later this month, is a full-touch handset that places users at the center of the social media revolution with a wide range of social networks support, such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. The new mobile complements the company’s touch screen strategy, “touch for every lifestyle,” by targeting the youth market.

“We see strong growth opportunities in this sector and will continue to pioneer new markets with innovative technology. The Corby is consistent with Samsung’s legacy of developing new products and technologies designed for specific audiences and bringing new devices quickly to market,” explained JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Communications Division. 

The device represents a complete makeover for the youth segment, with its eye-catching profile featuring two-tone diagonal contours. The Samsung Corby is notable for both its body design and colors - which mark a significant break from the way full touch phones are usually designed. It is available in bold color options such as Jamaican Yellow, Cupid Pink, Minimal White, and Festival Orange so that users can choose their favorite colors.

“Globally, we are number one for full-screen touch phones and recognize the importance of social networks in the modern mobile industry. Samsung’s target audiences are at the heart of its business strategy and the design and functionality of Samsung Corby meets the needs of a highly digitally connected and style conscious youth audience - as does the affordable price point,” continued JK Shin.

The best social networking services are combined with enhanced multimedia capabilities in a compact form factor. Corby’s 2.8-inch QVGA screen delivers a quality online video experience and its quad band connectivity and support for EDGE networks means that Samsung Corby users can stay in touch regardless of their location.

Samsung Corby will be available in European countries starting from mid September at approximately 150 EUR.